Dear friend! I am sending you the clippings taken from Radek (only until Saturday: return them to me immediately after the lecture).

Pay attention to that section of the International's resolution where it speaks against pacifism (against "persuasion").

The Hague Conference and similar pacifist declarations and undertakings by governments and the bourgeoisie are caused by

(1) hypocrisy;

(2) deception of the people;

(3) the current of bourgeois pacifism, which has "great" names and dreams of peace without social revolution. This current has enormous literature (of a lordly sort, not for the people);

(4) calculation: it is sometimes advantageous for one power or another to "appear" peaceful, to gain time, etc.

This in general. Concretely: one must study each particular case, each power.

I do not have the figures requested.
(Addresses have been sent: Abramovich and his friends will best provide a recommendation, if needed.)

The crux of the question on pacifism (a question of paramount importance for Switzerland): the idea that war is not connected with capitalism, is not a continuation of the politics of p e a c e f u l time. In this lies the theoretical falsity; the practical—in circumventing social revolution.

I am in great haste! Greetings! Your Lenin

1917
in Clarens (Switzerland)

Written between 22 and 30 January

Sent from Zurich

First published in 1949
in the journal "Bolshevik" No. 1

Printed from the manuscript